Berry box



J. W. M CLEAN BERRY BOX A ril 13 1926. 1,550,147

Filed May s, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 John W Ma. C /ean April 13 1926. J.W. M CLEAN BERRY BOX Filed May a, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 John W. M; CleanPatented Apr. 13, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. IOBLEAN, OI SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

BERRY BOX.

Application Med May 8,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. MGCLEAN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in Spokane County andState of \Vashington, have invented certain newan'd useful Improvementsin Berry Boxes, of which the following is a s ecification.

My present invention re ates to improvements in berry boxes of thefolded-blank type, wherein a single, integral blank 15 cut, as by meansof a die, to special shape, and the cut blank is adapted for use byfolding or bending to form its sides and bottom. The bottom is fashionedwith overlapp ng sections securely locked together to provlde areinforced and rigid bottom for the open top box, and a single si-deflap is utillzed for locking the box or tray in position for use.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a light butstrong box to be used as a container and for shipping purposes inconnection with berries and similar commodities which box iscomparatively inexpensive in cost production, well braced, and durable,and preferably made up of cardboard.

The box blanks as cut to shape, before folding, may be compactly piledand secured for shipment, and the blanks may with {dollity andconvenience be bent and folded into boxes or containers either forsale-display or for shipping purposes.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example ofthe hysical embodiment of my invention wherem the parts are combined andarran ed according to one mode I have so far evised for the practicalapplication of the principles of my invention for the productlon of arectangular shaped box or tray.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a berry box embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the box blank, partly folded, andillustratingthe process of forming the box.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the bottom of the completed box.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the out boxblank, before folding or bending.

The box as illustrated is preferabl of rectangular shape with open top,an the material used may be card-board, fiber or similar materialadapted for the purpose. It will be understood that other forms orshapes of the box are contemplated, but for 1923. Serial No. 887,484.

convenience of illustration and description, a rectangular box ishereinafter referred to.

The four sides 1, 2, 3, 4, of similar size and shape, form integralparts or sections of the single-piece blank, which is scored on itslongitudinal axis and along its median line A (as indicated by a lightline) in order that the four sections 5, 6, 7, 8, may be folded or bentto form the bottom of the box. The four bottom sections aresubstantially of the same size and shape, and are designed for coactionto form a reinforced bottom member for the box when completed. 7

The blank is scored transversely at three equidistant points asindicated by the light line B upon which the bends or folds are made forforming the respective sides of the rectangular box. These three lightlines indicating scoring are continued by heavy lines C (which indicatecuts or slits through the material of the blank) across the portion ofthe blank from which the bottom sections are formed, in order that thesections 5, 6, g, 8, may be folded to form the bottom of the Forsupporting the completed box in upright. position and slightly elevatedfrom its support I utilize corner feet which are fashioned by cuttingout three tabs 9 which are located on the axis lines 13-0 of the blankbetween the ends of the blank. These tabs are each bounded by a heavyline in Figure 4 to indicate that the tab is cut or stamped from thematerial by a tool having three cutting edges as indicated, and the tabis adapted to be folded on the line B to form an angular foot.

At the respective ends of the blank a fourth foot is provided for bycutting out two complementary tab sections 10 and 11. The tab 11 it willbe observed is a halfsection, while the tab 10, which is to bedesigi'ied to receive respective corners 13 of the four bottom sections,after the sections have been bent along the line A.

At the long free edge of each bottom section an angular notch 14 is cuttherefrom. said notch being located equidistant between the short endsof the sections, in order that the overlapping bottom sections may beinterlocked, and their'joint at the center of the box bottom be freelymade with a comparatively for the box bottom, as shown.

At the respective ends of the blank, coacting means are provided forlocking the folded members of the box together. These means include aslit 15, cut by a tool having the necessary three cutting edges, anddisposed at or near the end of the boxside 4, and also a locking flap 16at the opposite end of the box blank, which flap forms a continuation ofthe box side 1. The blank is scored on the line 17 in order that theflap 16 and the foot-tab may be bent at right angles to the side 1, andto permit the flap 16 to be bent around the box side 4 in completing thebox. This flap is notched at 18 to form a locking head 19 which may beinserted inthe slot or slit of the box side 4.

The box may be fashioned from the blank any convenient manner as forinstance by first bending the blank on the lines B (the slits Cpermitting freedom of movement) and bending the locking flap 16 and foot10 on line 17. Then the bottom sections are folded at right angles tothe side sections leaving the feet rigid with the sides of the box, andthe opposite ends of the sectional box-side are brought together asindicated in the initial movement in Figure 2.

In Figure 2 it will be seen that the bottom sections, as they arebrought together, are made to overlap, with the respective corsmoothupper surface ners 13 beneath an adjoining section. As the box membersare closed in these corners are inserted in the complementary slits 12,as seen at the right in Figure 2, and when all of the corners have beeninserted in their slits, a continued closing movement of the ttomsections will cause each section to be locked in its adjoining section,as seen in Figures 1 and 3. After the bottom sections are in place theflap 16 is turned around and laid flat against the side 4, and head 19is slipped into the slit 15 to lock the box by a single element. Theslit it will be observed is disposed horizontally in the side 4 and thehead is slipped therein in a vertical plane, thus bringing any strainsor pull of the flap on the head 19. The head through the notch 18 isprevented from being dislodged for the reason that a lateral strain isabsorbed between the head and the left end or Wall of the slit 15.

In this manner a comparatively light, durable, and neat appearing box isprovided, which is braced and strengthened by the interlocking bottomsections, and the parts are securely locked in normal position.

Having thus fully described my in ention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is;

A box made from a single folded blank having sides and overlappingbottom sections of uniform size and shape, said sections havingcomplementary edge notches forming a center opening in the box bottom,co-acting means for interlocking adjoining bottom sections, said sideshaving rigid extensions cut out of the bottom sections and formingangular feet at the corners of the box, a slit in one side, a'foldedflap on an adjoining side, and a notched head on said flap toengage said slit.'

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN W. MCCLEAN.

